If you're staying at Horseshoe bay on Lake LBJ I recommend you play golf there. It's quite a drive to Barton Creek from there - probably at least an hour each way.

BC is a well known, high quality course that's hosted PGA events in the past. I don't specifically know about HBR course(s).

Maybe our own local BC area fodorite is a golfer and can chime in.

Hi Susan!
I hope I can help. I currently work at Horseshoe Bay Resort as the Chief Sales Officer, but was also in sales at Barton Creek for many years.

Both properties are excellent golf resorts. Horseshoe Bay is more of a destination resort, as there is a lot to do on property including the added attraction of constant level lake LBJ. The lake adds to Horseshoe Bay's Hill Country charm, enhances the scenery on and off the golf courses, and offers watersports and boat rental options through our on-site Marina.

Horseshoe Bay Resort in addition to excellent golf and Lake LBJ, offers a selection of five outstanding restaurants and lounges, a full service spa and fitness center, four pools, excellent landscaping, and accommodations from guest rooms in the on-site Marriott hotel to one, two and three bedroom Paseo villas adjacent to the hotel. There are also the Waters - one, two and three bedroom lakefront rental condominums.

Horseshoe Bay Resort offers a true unlimited golf package - The Just Bring Your Swing Unlimited Golf Package - you can play as much golf as you like from noon on the day of arrival through the afternoon of departure with no surcharges for premium courses and no extra fees. I think this is the best value at any golf resort in Texas!

The golf at Horseshoe Bay features three distinctly different championship golf courses, and Whitewater, our 18 hole Bermeda grass putting course.

Slick Rock is very popular with our Members and tends to be a bit easier than Apple Rock and Ram Rock, but still a very good test of golf. Slick Rock #14 is known as The Million Dollar Hole due to a double waterfall that becomes a dramatic part of the tee shot. The cart path takes you through a low water crossing and then traverses between the upper and lower waterfalls - spectacular! Slick Rock is know for very well maintained Crenshaw Bentgrass greens.

Apple Rock is a bit more difficult, but very playable for all abilities and is perhaps the most scenic of the courses at Horseshoe Bay. The 10th tee box is one of the highest points at the resort and has a panoramic view of Lake LBJ and the surrounding Texas Hill Country. Ten and eleven are back to back par fives, with hole eleven playing down to the lake. Number twelve is a great par 3 that is in a cove on the lake with the tee shot over water to a green surrounded by water. The greens at Apple Rock are Tif-Eagle Bermuda grass, setting this course apart from Slick Rock and Ram Rock.

Ram Rock is a great test of golf on a challenging, but fair track with narrow fairways, lots of elevation changes and wonderful rolling Crenshaw Bentgrass greens. Ram Rock frequently hosts professional and top amateur events, including many Texas State Championships. Ram Rock is a must play course for anyone visiting the Texas Hill Country.

Then there is Whitewater (and it is included on our unlimited golf package)! Whitewater is a one-of-a-kind multi-million dollar par 72, eighteen hole Bermuda grass putting course surrounded by a tropical setting complete with waterfalls, tropical birds, palm trees, and is lit for night play. No other Texas golf resort has anything like this!

Bottom line . . . Horseshoe Bay is a true destination golf resort with outstanding, unique and scenically beatiful landscapes set in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The golf at Horseshoe Bay Resort and Barton Creek is outstanding, but the Whitewater Putting Course, Lake LBJ, and the on-site restaurants set Horseshoe Bay Resort apart.

My family and I have vacationed at both Barton Creek and Horseshoe Bay. Overall, we prefer Horseshoe Bay. They offer way more activities and dining options than Barton Creek and we like being on the water. My son and I also prefer the golf courses at Horseshoe Bay. Each of the three Robert Trent Jones courses offered different challenges.
In the afternoon our entire family play the putting course which is not like any putting course I've seen. The real grass course routes through waterfalls and streams. You think you are on a tropical island.

Thanks a lot for your replies. We booked The Waters at Horseshoe Bay. Can't wait to go. Also, does anyone have any info. on shopping in the area?

For shopping there are several options. About 90 minutes is A town called Fredericksburg that my wife enjoy visiting has several small shops and restaurants etc; Marble Falls just 10 minutes from Horseshoe Bay has a historic main street with unique shopping and if you want a mall there is one about 40 minutes from the resort towards Austin in the town of Bee Cave…I think it is called the Galleria but there are other stores across the street from there also.